Separate waves of rain moved along a strong west to east frontal zone in the Ohio Valley from late on the 3rd into the early morning hours of the 8th.  Dew points in the 50 to 55 degree range were in Kentucky and southern West Virginia.  The heaviest rain was over eastern Ohio into western Pennsylvania.  Yet, Middlebourne of Tyler County still reported 3.24 inches during the period.  Small stream flooding occurred across Tyler County on the 5th, such as along Indian Creek.  People were rescued from 2 stranded cars.  The Ohio River crested on the 8th to the 9th along the stretch from Tyler County on down to Cabell and Wayne Counties.  The crest from Willow Island Lock and Dam through Parkersburg was lower than the September 2004 level.  The crest at Willow Island was 42.9 feet around 2200E on the 7th.  At Parkersburg, the crest was 42.4 feet during the morning of the 8th.  Flood stage is 36 feet. With more outflow from the Hocking River than in September 2004, the crest at Point Pleasant and Huntington was slightly higher than the previous year.  At Point Pleasant, the crest was 46 feet during the morning hours on the 9th.  Flood stage is 40 feet.  At Huntington, the crest was 51.8 feet during the evening of the 9th.  Flood stage is 50 feet. In Tyler County, 10 homes had minor water damage.  In Pleasants County, 2 homes had major damage.  In Wood County, 20 homes had major damage, and 10 homes had minor water damage.  Backwater up the Little Kanawha River affected homes in the Happy Valley section near Interstate 77.  No damage to homes was reported from Jackson County on down to Cabell and Wayne Counties.Tyler County was included with several northern panhandle counties in a federal disaster declaration.  See FEMA disaster number 1574 for specifics.Around 0845E on the 6th, just upriver from the Belleville Lock and Dam, the tugboat Jon Strong was heading up the Ohio River.  After passing through the lock chamber, 9 of the 12 barges came loose in the strong currents.  Three of the barges sank under the tainted gates of the dam, 3 others were forced up against the dam pier houses, and 3 other went through the structure and were recaptured downstream.  Salvage crews did not remove all the damaged barges until the last day of the month.  Since the gates could not close, this allowed the Belleville pool to drop 10 to 15 feet below normal.  River traffic was suspended on the 19th.  River bank slippage occurred due to the low levels.  About 26 homes along the Little Kanawha River were affected, when about 4,000 feet of the river bank slipped down.  The slippage damaged home foundations, docks, patios, and decks.  Water levels returned toward normal by early February.

Flood in MASON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 08-JAN-05 12:00:00 to 10-JAN-05 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Flood in CABELL, WEST VIRGINIA
From 08-JAN-05 12:00:00 to 10-JAN-05 19:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Flood in WAYNE, WEST VIRGINIA
From 08-JAN-05 14:00:00 to 10-JAN-05 20:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flood in TYLER, WEST VIRGINIA
From 05-JAN-05 10:00:00 to 09-JAN-05 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 400K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flood in PLEASANTS, WEST VIRGINIA
From 06-JAN-05 11:00:00 to 09-JAN-05 14:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flood in WOOD, WEST VIRGINIA
From 06-JAN-05 12:00:00 to 09-JAN-05 22:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 1M
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Flood in JACKSON, WEST VIRGINIA
From 07-JAN-05 04:00:00 to 10-JAN-05 12:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT